Wimmer, Davis still hopeful in Busch Series

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Friday's Stacker 2/GNC Live Well 250 at Daytona International Speedway was supposed to be Scott Wimmer's final NASCAR Busch Series race this season in a Bill Davis Racing car.

	Scott Wimmer Credit: ASP

But Monday, Davis decided that, with his lightly sponsored driver sitting sixth in points and showing remarkably improved performance in only his second NBS season, they would continue their program for four more races.

Wednesday night, Wimmer again proved his merit by taking the Dodge Intrepid that Davis' NASCAR Winston Cup crew chief Tommy Baldwin prepared for Daytona's February Busch race and that David Green put on the outside of the front row, and duplicating the effort.

Wimmer was fourth best in the afternoon practice behind three Fords and looked like the Bud Pole winner for the first time in his career until Joe Nemechek knocked the Dodge off the top spot for the second Daytona race in a row. Wimmer will start second in the No. 23 Siemens Dodge.

"We're basically an under-funded team that has a lot of people that work real hard," Wimmer said. "Bill and us sat down Monday and decided it would be a big shame to shut it down -- he just doesn't want to quit -- so we would do four more races.

"If we can't get a sponsor through that period then we'll have to close it down."

Davis had planned to enter Wimmer in seven Winston Cup races through the balance of the season, including next weekend's Tropicana 400 at Chicagoland Speedway in a Siemens Dodge.

That program, which came about when Davis and the sponsor agreed to transfer the remaining money from Siemens' planned 17-race 2002 effort to the seven Cup races, will continue as planned.

Now, Wimmer will also race the Busch Series races at Chicagoland, Gateway International Raceway, Pikes Peak International Raceway and Indianapolis Raceway Park before the team will have to make another decision.